AM Lombardia

Lombardia was an all-caps condensed sanserif with a modular design, a high thick/thin contrast and a distinctive 8-degree slant. Its geometric rhythm is emphasised by the swelling at the terminals of the letters, while another distinctive feature is the small curve at the central intersection of letters such as B, K and R.  Lombardia was a metal type patented by Pierallini, Turchi & Co. in Florence in 1941. It was released in six body sizes ranging from 24 to 72 points. Although little is known about the type foundry, which was later acquired by Azzaro in Rome, the patent provides information about its designer, Egidio Bozzolo. Bozzolo was a graphic designer (he designed a cover of Campo Grafico) and a member of a group of modernist-inspired graphic designers (including Antonio Cane, Stanislao Defilippi, Ezio D’Errico and Paolo Alcide Saladin), who authored Tipo. Impostazioni tipografiche create e realizzate dal Gruppo Cinque T., a stylish essay on modern industrial graphics published in 1939. [c-a-s-t.com]